Big Brother Star David Gest's Tragic Death and Bizarre Hitman Plot Against Elton John
The entertainment world was left reeling in 2016 when music producer turned television personality David Gest was discovered deceased in a London hotel room at the age of 62. His body was found on the floor of his lavish suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf, after security staff entered following forty eight hours without any sighting of the star.
Isolation and Health Struggles in Final Days
David Gest spent his last days in complete isolation within the hotel, having recently withdrawn from the Celebrity Big Brother programme due to a serious infection. Reports indicate he had been battling multiple health conditions, including chest problems, high blood pressure, and chronic insomnia for which he was prescribed various medications.
A source revealed at the time: "He was taking really strong medication because he was suffering from nasty chest problems that just wouldn't go away. He also had special tablets for high blood pressure and had been on sleeping pills for years."
Authorities confirmed no suspicious circumstances surrounded his death, which was determined to be from natural causes, with indications suggesting he had experienced a stroke. The final confirmed sighting of Gest occurred the previous Wednesday when he was spotted on the London Underground travelling toward Canary Wharf.
Shocking Hitman Plot Against Music Legend
Perhaps most astonishingly, revelations emerged after Gest's death that he had allegedly hired a hitman to assassinate Sir Elton John. According to close friend Imad Handi, Gest flew into a rage after reading comments where Sir Elton reportedly joked about buying Gest's then wife Liza Minnelli "a heterosexual husband" following their 2002 wedding.
"David flew into a rage and yelled, 'I'm going to kill that mother******. He's a dead man,'" Handi told The Sun newspaper.
The plot was allegedly arranged while Gest was living in Honolulu, Hawaii, with his bodyguard identifying when Sir Elton would next be in Los Angeles. The attack was scheduled for January 17, 2003, when the music icon was due to perform in Anaheim, California. Gest reportedly paid £20,000 for the hit before being talked out of it by his bodyguard, ultimately losing £12,000 when the hitman refused to return the full amount.
Turbulent Personal Life and Career
David Gest's marriage to Hollywood legend Liza Minnelli lasted just sixteen months before their split in July 2003. Minnelli has since described the marriage as "traumatic" and referred to Gest as a "conman clown." Throughout his brief stint on Celebrity Big Brother, fellow contestants became concerned about his deteriorating health, with some mistakenly believing he had died before discovering he was still alive.
Sources also claimed Gest struggled with gambling addiction, amassing debts of approximately £500,000 before his death. His health appeared to decline progressively during his time in the Big Brother house, with much of his time spent resting in the property's spare bedroom.
In the days leading up to his death, Gest reportedly consulted a general practitioner after experiencing chest related symptoms. Hotel security personnel accessed his accommodation after he hadn't been spotted for forty eight hours, finding him deceased on the suite floor.
